Check out some of our favorite white wines and food pairings to have at the pool or beach side.
Warm weather, lots of sunshine, sunning on a towel with a fresh breeze (dreaming over here) and a crisp wine, – the necessities for a perfect summer. Below, we’re going to give you the low down on the best foods to pair with our favorite types of summer wines.
We will also dispel the myth that only white wines classify as a refreshing summer treat. By the time you’ve ready this article, you will be a solid wine guru. Get ready to impress your friends with the art of wine pairing (you’re welcome).
Wine 101: Six Basic Wine Tastes
Before we can start this wine pairing journey, the basics need to be learned. Once you learn the basics of wine tastes, you can master what food pairs well.
Six tastes of wine:
- Acid
- Bitter
- Fat
- Piquant (Spiciness)
- Salt
- Sweet
First rule of thumb when learning about wine tastes: acid, bitter, and spice clash with one another. For example, never pair bitter foods with acidic wines. It is also wise to remember that the other three tastes – fat, salt, and sweet all complement one another.
It is uncommon to find wine that contains flavors of fat, saltiness or spice; this means that you can incorporate those notes through food. When it comes to the other three flavors, red wines contain more bitterness, white and rosé wines tend to be more acidic and obviously sweet wines are sweet. Understanding these varying tastes is a major step in comprehending wine and food pairing.
Second rule of thumb, wine and food pairing rely heavily on contrasting tastes. For example, a zesty white wine such as pinot grigio complements the fat and cream found in a baked macaroni. Congruent pairings will match taste with taste; for example, if you were to take the same baked mac and cheese and pair it with a creamy chardonnay.
Summer White Wine and Food Pairing
PINOT GRIGIO/PINOT GRIS
Seriously, this wine goes with just about everything, all the time, including nothing, which is sometimes a fine option, too. If you plan on enjoying some fresh seafood, pinot gris is always a safe and delicious option because it pairs well with seafood regardless of the vintage or region.
Pairs perfectly with:
- Your favorite backyard BBQ, including pork
- Seafood (think buttery grilled lobster) with roasted vegetables, even asparagus
- Lemon chicken!
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Another EASY choice, open a bottle of sauvignon blanc at the next barbeque. It’s super food-friendly—if you aren’t feeling seafood, it pairs very well with chicken. This wine is creamy, spicy, acidic, and soft. Pay attention to the flavor profiles to get an extra delicious pairing.
Pairs perfectly with:
- Sushi
- Grilled and roasted vegetables (in pasta or on their own)
- Various Thai food dishes teeming with spice or citrus profiles
CHARDONNAY
This is the most challenging of white wines to pair with a food. It is has soft and delicate taste that can easily be overwhelmed by your food choice, strong flavors and fried foods are a definite NO!. Pair the buttery wine with other rich and mild flavors.
When thinking of food pairing for chardonnay, think fresh and vibrant, with hints of acidity like Baja fish tacos. (yum!)
Pairs perfectly with:
- Butter-poached lobster or crab
- Tomato-based dishes
- Lighter preparations of poultry like chicken or Caesar salad
- Seared tuna, tartare